{"id":64810,"date":"2026-07-15T01:08:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T05:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-rise-on-softer-u-s-inflation-amid-escalating-middle-east-tensions\/64810\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T01:08:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T05:08:19","slug":"global-markets-rise-on-softer-u-s-inflation-amid-escalating-middle-east-tensions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www2.stockmarketwatch.com\/stock-market-news\/global-markets-rise-on-softer-u-s-inflation-amid-escalating-middle-east-tensions\/64810\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Markets Rise on Softer U.S. Inflation Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Asian equities gained ground<\/strong> following softer-than-expected <strong>U.S. inflation data<\/strong>, which significantly reduced market expectations for a <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong> rate hike in July from <strong>45% to 18%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/stockmarketwatch.com\/energy\/crude-oil\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"12\" title=\"Crude oil\">Oil prices<\/a> surged<\/strong> as the <strong>United States<\/strong> reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and launched targeted strikes in the <strong>Khuzestan province<\/strong>, including a wheat storage facility in <strong>Hoveyzeh<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Goldman Sachs (<a href=\"\/stock\/GS\">GS<\/a>)<\/strong> received a major price target upgrade to <strong>$955<\/strong> from <strong>JPMorgan (<a href=\"\/stock\/JPM\">JPM<\/a>)<\/strong> following record second-quarter earnings driven by a resurgence in dealmaking and AI infrastructure investment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Japan&#39;s Tertiary Industry Index<\/strong> for May rose <strong>1.1%<\/strong>, significantly outperforming the <strong>0.4%<\/strong> estimate, signaling resilience in the nation&#39;s service sector despite rising costs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sammaan Capital (<a href=\"\/stock\/SAMMAANCAP\">SAMMAANCAP<\/a>)<\/strong> announced it will convene a committee on <strong>July 20<\/strong> to consider a buyback of its <strong>U.S. dollar-denominated bonds<\/strong> to manage surplus cash.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Market Sentiment and Economic Indicators<\/h2>\n<p>Global markets are navigating a complex landscape of cooling Western inflation and intensifying geopolitical friction. In Asia, stocks largely trended higher after <strong>U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI)<\/strong> data for June came in below forecasts, fueling hopes that the <strong>Federal Reserve<\/strong> may pause its tightening cycle. The <strong>Singapore Dollar (<a href=\"\/stock\/SGD\">SGD<\/a>)<\/strong> edged higher as a result, benefiting from the broader retreat in the <strong>U.S. Dollar<\/strong>&#39;s strength.<\/p>\n<p>In Japan, the <strong>Tertiary Industry Index<\/strong> provided a positive surprise, growing <strong>1.1% month-on-month<\/strong> in May. While this was slightly lower than the previous month&#39;s <strong>1.3%<\/strong>, it comfortably beat analyst expectations of <strong>0.4%<\/strong>. However, a <em>Reuters Tankan<\/em> survey revealed that while manufacturers remain upbeat due to semiconductor demand, non-manufacturers are feeling the pinch of higher costs linked to the weak yen and Middle East instability.<\/p>\n<h2>Geopolitical Escalation in the Middle East and South China Sea<\/h2>\n<p>Energy markets are on high alert as the <strong>United States<\/strong> restarted a blockade of Iranian ports on Wednesday. The move follows a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the <strong>Strait of Hormuz<\/strong>, a critical chokepoint for 20% of the world&#39;s oil. Iranian state media reported that a <strong>U.S. strike<\/strong> targeted a wheat storage silo in <strong>Hoveyzeh<\/strong> early Wednesday morning, marking a potential shift in targeting toward critical infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>Simultaneously, tensions are rising in the Pacific as the <strong>U.S. Coast Guard<\/strong> increases its presence in disputed waters to counter aggressive patrolling by <strong>China<\/strong>. A coalition of <strong>14 nations<\/strong> recently reaffirmed a 2016 ruling that invalidated Beijing\u2019s expansive maritime claims, a move China has dismissed as &quot;null and void.&quot;<\/p>\n<h2>Corporate Developments and Financial Sector<\/h2>\n<p>The financial sector saw significant movement as <strong>JPMorgan (<a href=\"\/stock\/JPM\">JPM<\/a>)<\/strong> raised its price target for <strong>Goldman Sachs (<a href=\"\/stock\/GS\">GS<\/a>)<\/strong> by <strong>$55 to $955<\/strong>. This optimism follows Goldman&#39;s &quot;crushing&quot; second-quarter results, which saw net revenue hit <strong>$20 billion<\/strong> on the back of strong trading and investment banking activity. Analysts noted that the &quot;AI flywheel&quot; is beginning to drive substantial deal flow for major Wall Street institutions.<\/p>\n<p>In the credit markets, <strong>Sammaan Capital (<a href=\"\/stock\/SAMMAANCAP\">SAMMAANCAP<\/a>)<\/strong> is moving to optimize its balance sheet. The company\u2019s Securities Issuance and Investment Committee will meet on <strong>July 20<\/strong> to evaluate a buyback of its <strong>USD-denominated bonds<\/strong>. This follows a previous tender offer in April where the firm sought to repurchase up to <strong>$45 million<\/strong> of its senior secured social bonds due in 2030.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key Takeaways Asian equities gained ground following softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data, which significantly reduced market expectations for a Federal Reserve 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